Wire-gripper



(No Model.) B. ERBE.

WIRE GRIPPBR.

No. 380,749. Patented Apr'. 10, '18881.

)MMM QL@ A NITED STATESr PATENT OFFICE.

BARTHEL ERBE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA..

WlREf-GRIPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,749, dated April 10,1888.

Application filed November 29, 1887. Serial No. 256,479.

Z'o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, BAETHEL ERBE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in the construction of wire-grippers for holding wire or wire cords when subjected to strain, as in building wire fences; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, which will enable any person skilled in the art to which it relates to make and use said invention.

My invention consists of a short metal link or plate having at one end au eye or hook by which it may be attached to the moving parts of any suitable wirestretching device or machine, and at the other end a rectangular keyseat with serrated lugs or jaws projecting at either side of the key-seat, and a metal wedge or key, between which and one of the lugs the wire may be iirmly gripped and held.

My invention will be more fully understood from the following more exact description of its parts, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked on said drawings.

Like letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a top View or plan of the entire implement, with a short section of Wire in position as being held by the grippers. Fig. 2 is a side View or elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a section of the same on the line x fr. (See Fig. l.) Fig. 4 is a plan of the link or plate. Fig. 5 is a short section of wire. Fig. 6 is the key, (disconnected from its seat,) and a washer, b', by which it may be held in connection with the plate.

' The construction of theplate A is sutiiciently shown by the several Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, except that obviously the eye a a may be replaced byan open hook. The key or wedge Bis made (No model.)

with its larger end of such size that it will not pass through the key hole or seat a, and at its smaller end it is provided with a washer, b', to be riveted on after the key is inserted, as shown in Fig. 3; but the same functional relation may be secured by various other obvious arrangements instead of the washer, the object being simply to prevent the key from being disconnected from the plate when not in use. There are two serrated lugs or jaws, te and as; but only one of them at a time is operative, the other being added for convenience in operating to the right or left of the person using it.

With its various parts constructed and arranged as shown in Figs. l and 2 (without the Wire c, which is not a part of the implement) my improved gripper is operative as follows: Connecting it by the eye a (orasuitable hook instead) to any suitable machine or appliance for stretching wire, the key B is pushed upward in its seat until the space between its lower and narrower part and either of thc jaws ai or a3 is sufficient. to admit the wire c. (See Figs. l, 2, and 3.) The wire being in place, a smart blow on the top of the key willsecurely wedge the wire between the key and the jaw. A slight blow on the lower end or point of the key will release the wire when that is desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, its construction and operation, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The wire-gripper consisting of the plate A, provided at one end with means for connecting it to a stretcher and with two facing serrated lugs at the other, and of a tapered key secured in a mortise formed between said lugs and having a limited movement therein, subA stantially as described.

BARTHEL ERBE.

Witnesses:

A. PATTERsoN, PETER ZERN. 

